Restoring the World's Mangrove Forests

THE QUIET ACHIEVERS Restoring the world’s mangrove forests

Martin Atkin Where the ocean meets the shore, where salt water meets fresh, mangroves stand with one foot in the water, one foot on land.

“Love them or hate them, we all depend on mangroves and tidal wetlands. They have been the quiet achievers that have somehow adapted to fit among our everyday lives.” Mangroves are one of our best allies in the fight against climate change - yet we are doing nowhere near enough to protect them. THE QUIET ACHIEVERS

They live where the ocean meets the shore, Mangroves are one of our best allies in as cyclones and storm surges. Their roots where salt water meets fresh. They stand with the fight against climate change - yet we shelter huge biodiversity of fish, crustaceans one foot in the water, one foot on land. are doing nowhere near enough to protect and shellfish, upon which some 200 million Washed twice a day by the tide, their roots them. “Mangroves have enormous capacity people depend on for their food and lifting them high and proud above the waves, for absorbing and retaining carbon dioxide livelihoods. mangroves protect us from storms, suck up and other greenhouse gases - and that’s most carbon from the atmosphere, provide a safe critical in today’s climate crisis,” says haven for endangered creatures and Professor Benjamin Horton, Director of the “Love them or hate them, we all depend on livelihoods for many millions of people. Earth Observatory of Singapore and co-author mangroves and tidal wetlands,” says Professor of a recent report on the threats to the world’s Norman Duke of James Cook University in Mangroves circle the globe like a blue-green mangroves. Australia. “They have been the quiet mantle. Around 70 species covering more than achievers that have somehow adapted to fit 150,000 km2 in 118 countries fringe tropical “Mangroves are an intriguing, intricate among our everyday lives. Facing the sea and and sub-tropical coastlines from Brazil to ecosystem that allows its trees to adapt to bordering river and stream estuaries, these Australia, from Indonesia to Mozambique. high temperature and salinity levels. But we habitats offer essential services that will be The most common species - Rhizophora could lose almost all mangroves by 2050 if sorely missed when they are further mangle (red mangrove) and Avecennia the current carbon emissions trajectory is diminished.” germinans (black mangrove) - thrive in the not lowered.” ‘harsh space between the tides’ where other plants would die, having evolved over A world without mangroves is a world in countless millennia to cope with low oxygen serious trouble. Not only do they sequester and high salt levels. Their complex root huge amounts of carbon - around four times systems extend like snorkels above the more than rainforests - but they provide water and like anchors below, allowing them natural protection against increasing frequent to both breathe and stabilise themselves. and more intense extreme weather events such The scale of destruction is alarming. The UN The EU also funded a €47 million programme “Losing mangroves is the same as losing your Environment Programme estimates that half in Mozambique, including the restoration of livelihood,” said farmer Dominic Odu. “If the world’s mangrove forests have been lost in nearly 230 hectares of mangroves to protect communities continue to cut and harvest the past 40 years. Urban development, the coastline from storms and erosion. When mangroves at the current rate, soon there deforestation, rising sea levels, industrial Cyclone Idai hit Mozambique in March 2019, won’t be any left. So we decided to replant - aquaculture and erosion have all taken their more than a thousand people died - but it not only the edible mangroves, but the ones toll. Mangroves are highly adaptable, but even could have been far worse without the which are good for protection.” they are struggling to survive this onslaught. mangrove forests. Guyana, Mozambique and the Solomon Small wonder, that protecting and restoring “Ultimately, it’s our mangroves that saved Islands are among more than a dozen mangroves is a top priority for the European us. They are our first line of defence. The countries to benefit from EU-funded Union’s flagship climate change programme, day we don’t have mangroves, I don’t think mangrove restoration projects since 2007. The the Global Climate Change Alliance our city will survive.” benefits are clear, says Professor Horton. (GCCA+). In Guyana, for example, a €4.17 - Manuel de Araújo, Mayor of the coastal “Projects and policies designed to use coastal million programme ran from 2009-2014 city of Quelimane, Mozambique. ecosystems to reduce vulnerability can also integrating awareness raising, research, achieve other societal, environmental, and restoration and community development. Now In the Solomon Islands - one of the nations economic goals. We have a chance to change local women entrepreneurs make and sell most vulnerable to rising sea levels - the way we do things, to create a civilisation mangrove honey, beeswax candles and other mangroves cover 65,000 hectares providing in which the environmental crisis and the products whilst committing to protect the food, jobs and homes for thousands of people. climate emergency are addressed, a forests near their homes. As Agriculture Recognising their important role in disaster civilisation that does not exploit planet Earth Minister Robert Persaud noted, “The efforts to risk reduction, the EU funded projects in five for its own exclusive use, but lives in protect, restore and manage Guyana’s coastal communities including replanting and harmony with it.” mangroves forests efforts will continue long sustainable agro-forestry. after the project has ended.” Damaged mangroves on the south coast of Jamaica - a far cry from the gleaming white beaches and upmarket hotels which lure tourists to the island from all over the world. “You can’t tell the difference JAMAICA - HELPING NATURE TO HELP ITSELF between the natural mangroves and the ones we replanted, which is a Portland Cottage on the south coast of Jamaican coastline - and along with them, the Jamaica is a far cry from the gleaming white livelihoods of some 4,000 residents who rely testament to how well it worked.” beaches and upmarket hotels which lure on fishing. tourists to the island from all over the world. It’s a mainly low-income community where “When Hurricane Ivan struck it washed sand people scratch a living from fishing or and mud between the mangroves, blocking the running mom-and-pop stores where you can channels. That meant the trees died back buy anything from groceries to fishing tackle. because they need to be constantly flushed High unemployment levels and poor with sea water,” says Chalene Roye-Myrie, a infrastructure add to the feeling that this part marine biologist at the Jamaican National of Jamaica, where the vast majority of Environment and Planning Agency. “We had households fall at or below the poverty line, to dredge the channels before we could start has been left behind. replanting and restoration. We had to unblock the channels to allow the area to flush over Portland Cottage is located in the Portland time.” Bight Protected Area - Jamaica’s largest protected area. The people here are used to “The mangroves will not come back by tropical storms - a 2019 survey reported that themselves, they need help.” nearly 90% of the residents had experienced flooding at some time. Eight people were killed and 500 families lost their homes when Hurricane Ivan ripped through in September 2004. The storm also devastated large swathes of the mangrove forests which fringe the Rebuilding homes, roads and other works out at more than US$186 million per Replanting seedlings to cope with Portland infrastructure took priority, and it wasn’t until hectare. The GCCA project replanted a total Bight’s unique conditions was a challenge. GCCA launched its €4.8 million EU-funded of five hectares, representing a total protection “This is an unusual area with high salinity, “ programme in Jamaica in 2010 that work on value of nearly a billion dollars. By 2017, says Chalene. “We collected seedlings from restoring the mangroves really took off. studies showed that half the area had at least the surrounding healthy forests, and now you one mangrove tree for every four square can’t tell which is part is restored and which is “It’s the most successful mangrove restoration metres, and that the height of the trees had the original forest. One of the main reasons project we have ever done so far. You can’t increased to more than three metres. why it has been so successful is that while tell the difference between the natural other restoration projects tend to focus only mangroves and the ones we replanted, which More than 30 locals either volunteered or on replanting, we set out to try and mimic the is testament to how well it worked. The birds were given paid jobs dredging, planting and existing natural mangrove forests.” and the fish are coming back, it’s been a maintaining the mangroves. “The community tremendous success,” says Chalene. has been key to the success - we could not “We’re trying to replicate as far as have done it without them,” Chalene says. possible the existing natural mangroves, Mangroves are also helping to generate extra “You have to understand this is quite a low- not just plant new ones. We wanted the income for the locals in Portland Bight. A income area, it’s not one of the places with a mangroves to replant themselves wetlands and wildlife discovery centre was lot of tourism, they depend on the mangroves. without human intervention - that way built in 2015 to promote ecotourism and We wanted to be inclusive, for them to they are much more sustainable in the wildlife conservation. understand we were not just going to come in, long term.” replant the mangroves and leave again. They Without mangroves, flooding to Jamaica’s had to be involved for it to be sustainable in Not everyone was convinced right away. “A coastal zone could cause around US$169 the long term. When the project ended they lot of people were sceptical at first, they said million worth of damage every year. Factor in wanted to know when we were coming back, it wouldn’t work once we had left,” says the protection of people and infrastructure they wanted us to do more.” Chalene. during storms, and the value of mangroves “But we have a very close relationship with the community and involved them in every aspect. For example, there were lots of goats which ate the mangrove seedlings, so we built a fence to keep them out. Eventually the fence got broken and the goats started invading again - until the local people chased them out and mended it to make sure the goats didn’t get back in and damage the mangrove seedlings.”

The Portland Cottage project was one of GCCA’s early successes - and although replanting finished seven years ago, Chalene says the legacy will last well into the future.

“I was so happy to see it work so well, to show the benefits of the mangroves. It’s been so successful, the Portland Bight project is now used as a guide for other mangrove restoration projects around the world, and we are now about to start another, much bigger project covering 1600 hectares of restoration. It’s been a fantastic success.” “It’s not just about selling honey. It’s also about contributing something to nature by pollinating the mangroves. And that’s the difference.” TREES, BEES AND PEOPLE - THE VIRTUOUS CIRCLE OF SURINAME

Beekeeper Fabian Esajas is enjoying the “It’s a win-win situation - the bees pollinate sweet taste of success. His honey, beeswax the crops, the farmers don’t need to take and medicinal ingredients are fast gaining land from the sea, I sell my honey - everyone attention among health and fashion-conscious benefits! If we work together we can make consumers all over the world. But Fabian’s the world understand that Suriname honey is bees aren’t just making money - they’re really good. Other people are not going to do helping restore Suriname’s mangrove trees. it for us, we have to do it for ourselves.” “Climate change is happening. Sea levels are rising. The impacts on the mangroves must Situated on the northeast coast of South not be underestimated,” says Fabian. “The America, Suriname is highly vulnerable to beekeepers in the coastal areas earn a living climate change. Battered by rising sea levels, from the mangroves, so we have to protect hurricanes and storm surges, the country’s and restore them.” coastline has retreated in some places by up to 600 metres in just ten years. The mangrove Fabian is part of a natural virtuous circle of forests which help to stabilise the shore have trees, bees and people. “The bees are attracted been steadily destroyed for agricultural land, to the mangrove flowers,” he explains. “They artificial fish ponds and urban development. pollinate the flowers, producing more seeds In some areas, such as Weg naar Zee (literally, which grow into mangrove trees - and we get “road to the sea”) near the capital Paramaribo, mangrove honey. Bees make a huge around a quarter of the mangrove forests have contribution to maintaining our mangrove been lost since 1980. forests. Give the bees what they need, and “Bees make a huge contribution to nature gives back. maintaining our mangrove forests. Give the bees what they need, and nature gives back. It’s a win-win.” “The coastline is as flat as a pancake,” says less food for the bees. The habitat is very get more money, and the mangroves start to Professor Sieuwnath Naipal of the Anton de important - if it’s in a good condition, the bees regenerate. Kom University of Suriname. “Paramaribo is don’t need feeding as much.” almost at sea level. Mangroves provide Dr Curt Delice of the IICA looks out over a protection but they are under attack from “The livelihoods of the beekeepers were vast mudflat on Surname’s coast. He points to rising sea levels and human intervention. under threat,” says Dr Armstrong Alexis, the a few stunted mangrove trees in the distance. When you take away the mangroves, you get UNDP representative in Suriname. “As part of “You see the mangrove plants over there, out a lot of erosion.” our initiative to build a more resilient society, in the open by themselves. That’s land which it was important to teach them new apiculture was previously reclaimed by farmers. Most of 2020 saw the launch of the EU-funded techniques whilst at the same time ensuring the original mangrove forest was cut down for €5 million second phase GCCA+ programme that the mangrove forest remains in a the production of rice and other crops - and in Suriname, part of which aims to halt condition to allow honey production to grow.” this is the outcome. The sea level is rising and mangrove destruction and restore some of the there’s nothing to stop it. We built some dykes lost forest. Working with the UN One of those new techniques was the to protect the coast from rising sea levels, but Development Programme (UNDP) and the introduction of the revolutionary ‘Perone’ it is a lot of money - millions and millions of Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on beehive. Unlike traditional hives, the dollars.” Agriculture (IICA), the project includes hexagonal structure mimics the holes in large permapiculture - or sustainable beekeeping - trees where bees like to nest and allows them to encourage the mangroves to regenerate to produce honey as they would in the wild. The dyke cost €6.5 million, but how much do naturally. the bees cost us? Nothing!” There are promising signs that the negative “You can clearly see the changes in the spiral of mangrove destruction and declining - Fabian Esajas forests,” says Richenel Davids, chair of the bee populations is being reversed. According beekeepers’ association in Coronie. “The fresh to IICA, there are more mangrove seeds and water can’t get to the mangroves, so there’s more black mangrove honey. The beekeepers “The mangrove and the bees are inseparable,” says Richenel. “The bees take care of the rehabilitation of the mangroves and in return they get nectar which turns into honey. What’s good for the mangroves is also good for local jobs. In the 1980s, there were only about eight or nine beekeepers, but now there are between 35 and 40. For a long time we worked as individuals, but now we’ve started to collaborate. When you work together, you learn more. People think beekeeping is easy, but it’s not. You need a lot of knowledge and experience.”

“When we sell honey, we’re not just selling a product,” says Fabian. “We’re telling the story that the bees benefit the whole coastal area. As a beekeeper, it’s not just about making and selling honey. It’s also about contributing something to nature by pollinating the mangroves. And that’s the difference.” Cyclone Nargis makes landfall on the Irrawaddy Delta, Myanmar May 2, 2008 SHELTER FROM THE STORM - REPLANTING MANGROVES IN MYANMAR

When Cyclone Nargis swept across Myanmar along by the water for several kilometres until “We consulted heavily with local people. in 2008, Labutta township in the heart of the they were able to grab hold of a tree. There is a very low level of awareness Irrawaddy delta bore the brunt. More than about climate change and the impacts 80,000 people were killed in this one district Not surprisingly, replanting and restoring the of cutting down the forests. It was very alone, while damage across the whole country delta’s mangroves became an urgent priority. much a participatory discussion with topped US$12 billion. Winds of more than Funded by €4 million from the EU, GCCA+, village leaders, to understand their 200 km per hour pushed a wall of water up to UN-Habitat and UN Environment Programme problems, and how much they 40 km inland, across shrimp farms and rice jointly set up the Myanmar Climate Change understand. We want them to become paddies where protective mangrove forests Alliance (MCCA) programme in 2013. ambassadors for protecting their local used to stand. Labutta was chosen for a pilot project, environment.” including mangrove restoration, aimed at "If you look at the path of the storm that hit creating resilience through ecosystem-based As part of the pilot project, four hectares of Myanmar, it hit exactly where it was going to adaptation. mangroves have been replanted by the do the most damage, and it's doing the most community. “It was very important to involve damage because much of the protective “Mangroves are the most important thing in them,” says Shashank. “After all, these vegetation was cleared," said Jeff NcNeely, Labutta,” says Shashank Mishra, Disaster communities are directly or indirectly chief scientist for the International Union for Risk Reduction Programme Manager for UN- responsible for the deforestation. But they Conservation of Nature (IUCN), shortly after Habitat in Myanmar. “People rely on them for have little alternative, because they rely the cyclone struck. their livelihoods, as well as for protection. heavily on wood for fuel and energy, and There’s already been a sixty percent reduction there’s a lack of alternative energy sources.” Villages surrounded by mangroves reported of the mangroves in that area through more survivors than those without, and many unsustainable deforestation and land use.” people said they saved themselves from the storm surge by sheltering in mangrove trees until help arrived. Some reported being swept Unfortunately, despite GCCA+ and other initiatives in Myanmar, recent data suggests the country continues to lose mangroves at an alarming rate - four times higher than the global average. “Myanmar is currently a global hotspot of mangrove deforestation, primarily due to conversion to rice agriculture,” says Daniel Friess, Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore. “The rest of south east Asia has seen a reduction in mangrove loss in recent “We were born here so we want to survive. decades, but mangroves are still threatened in Now we realise the importance of trees and many countries across the region.” mangroves and not cutting them down for firewood.” That’s bad news for the people of the Irrawaddy delta. - Ohn Myint, farmer and chairman of the mangrove committee in Thin Gar Lay

“If we don’t get enough fish for our family we have to borrow money. We can’t afford rice or other products. They have become more expensive after the flooding.”

- Zaw Min, fisherwoman “Mangroves are vital for this area because they are nutrition for all life.” RESTORING SENEGAL’S MANGROVES, ONE TREE AT A TIME

Take a trip through the Casamance river delta “Towards the end of the last century a lot of in southern Senegal, and the chances are that roads were built through the delta which you’ll come across a man up to his knees in blocked the natural flow of the water,” says muddy water, planting mangrove trees. Haïdar. “Back then there were no environmental impact studies, people just cut Haïdar el Ali - businessman, politician and down the mangroves and no-one replanted environmental campaigner - takes just a few them. The fishermen had to go further and seconds to pick a mangrove seedling from his further out to sea to catch fewer and fewer bag, reach down into the water and poke it fish. The salt water destroyed the rice fields - into the mud, before moving on to the next if the mangroves are healthy, they regulate the one. “Here we have a young leaf. You take it salinity of the water, and the fields are fertile. and plant the lower third in the mud. After So we started replanting.” that you take one step, two steps, and plant another one.” He gestures to the thousands of More than 53,000 hectares of mangroves young mangroves stretching as far as the eye disappeared in Senegal between 1980 and can see. “All of this has been planted by hand, 2005. So far, Haïdar, together with volunteers like this.” from hundreds of local villages in Casamance, have replanted an astonishing 152 million Haïdar is a man on a mission. As a former mangroves covering around 15,000 hectares. Minister of Ecology and Minister of Fisheries It’s one of the biggest mangrove replanting in the Senegalese government, he witnessed at programmes in the world. first hand the devastation of one of Africa’s biggest and most important mangrove forests. Now, he’s dedicating his life to saving it.

Haïdar el Ali - a man on a mission GCCA+ has been active in Senegal since Casamance areas, as well has hard 2011, committing a total of €9 million of EU infrastructure such as breakwaters, funding in two phases to develop and groynes and dykes made from rocks,” says implement an integrated coastal management Dior Sidibé, ICZM Project Manager. zone (ICZM) to tackle Senegal’s alarming rate of coastal erosion - up to two metres a year in “Beach reconstruction and reforestation are places. The programme includes replanting very important. A healthy mangrove mangroves not only in Casamance, but further ecosystem plays a vital role in the north in Saint Louis, where entire conservation and regeneration of biodiversity, communities have become climate refugees. it helps stop salt water from spreading inland. It stabilises the coastline and slows down “Mangrove trees can live for up to 600 coastal erosion. Coastal erosion is a natural years,” says Ameth Segne Diagne, whose phenomena, but it is made worse by human former village is now submerged under the action.” waves. “Their roots spread wide into the ground, which enables them to cope with the It’s not just on the ground that the success can weather and the salt water. They help be measured. According to satellite-based sweeten the underground water. Mangroves analysis by NASA, Senegal’s mangroves have are vital for this area because they are experienced significant regeneration and nutrition for all life.” expansion since 2000, with scientists measuring 48 km2 of new mangroves and 148 “So far we have planted at least 276 hectares km2 regenerated over 16 years. of casuarina trees and 260 hectares of mangroves in the Petite Côte, Saint-Louis and “For decades, there has been so much negative news about losing mangroves that it is easy to forget that these are plants that are almost perfectly designed to trap sediment and colonise empty mudflats,” says NASA scientist Dr Lola Fatoyinbo. “The regeneration of mangrove ecosystems is something we are actually seeing in several parts of the world now.”

As the tide starts to rise in Casamance, Haïdar swims around the mature mangrove forest, delighting in its rich ecosystem.

“Here we can see crabs, oysters and shells which are the starting point of the ecosystem, of the marine life in the mangrove roots. The women harvest the oysters, the crabs feed the little fish, the little fish become big fish which will be caught - and that’s the life of the mangroves. The mangroves attracts rain and the mud captures methane CO2. There is nothing better when it comes to regulating climate change.” “THE FUTURE OF THE MANGROVES IS IN OUR HANDS”

GCCA+ projects across the world have setting programme in the Philippines - can do experience, but actually take ownership of the already restored, replanted and protected more harm than good. As IUCN notes, project. thousands of hectares of mangroves as part of “Restoring a mangrove is a complex process integrated climate resilience programmes that needs to be founded on the principles of In the Solomon Islands for example, through a funded by the EU to the tune of many millions ecosystem management. Often, fast-paced and programme partly funded by the EU, of euros. From women entrepreneurs in large-scale ‘restoration events’ are not indigenous landowners have voluntarily given Guyana to the Belize ‘Marvellous Mangroves’ necessarily scientifically robust in terms of up their rights to logging mangroves in schools campaign, from Resiliencia Costera in which mangrove species should be restored, exchange for the opportunity to create and sell Cuba to Bangladesh’s ‘greenbelt’ coastal and where.” rainforest carbon offsets from their coastal afforestation programme, EU-funded projects rainforests. are protecting and enhancing the lives of The Portland Cottage success shows that millions of people. sustainable mangrove restoration is often The future of the world’s mangroves hangs in about letting natural regrowth take its course. the balance. “I could not be more serious It’s clear much more needs to be done - some Other common mistakes include planting the when I say the future of humanity will depend 35% of the world’s mangroves were lost wrong species in the wrong place, and failing on whether we can live sustainably, and the between 1980 and 2000. The global annual to consult and involve the local community survival of our mangroves is a key test,” says rate of loss continues at around 2.1% - “beyond paid labour and photo opportunities.” Professor Horton. although it is higher in the Americas at 3.6%. Deforestation rates have declined in the past It’s this last point which GCCA+ is at pains to “The future of the mangroves is in our decade - and some countries such as Suriname get right. From Portland Cottage to Weg naar hands. Sustainability is one of those rare have seen a modest increase in mangrove Zee, from Casamance to Laputta, EU funded issues, because of its magnitude, because of cover - but the overall outlook is gloomy. mangrove restoration schemes are designed to its scope, that if we don’t get it right, we may However, wholesale replanting is not always ensure local communities not only have their not be able to reverse, we may not be able the answer. A recent IUCN report claims that say and contribute their knowledge and adapt sufficiently.” mass planting - such as the world record Photo credits

Cover: © Ibrahim Shabil on Unsplash Mangrove roots: © Jonathan Wilkins Mangrove seedlings, Mauritius © GCCA+ / Karoonen Valaydon Red mangrove crab: © Samuel Toh on Unsplash Portland Cottage: © Jamaican National Environment and Planning Agency Sine Saloum Delta, Senegal: © Anton Lecock on Unsplash Honeycomb: © UNDP Suriname Degraded mangroves, Suriname © UNDP Suriname Honey bee: © John Quine Mangrove planting, Suriname: © GCCA+ / Harvey Lisse Boat with mangroves, Suriname: © GCCA+ / Harvey Lisse Cyclone Nargis: © NASA Lone mangrove, Fiji: © Vijeshwar Datt on Unsplash Sunrise fishing: Videoblocks stock Aerial view of Casamance: © livelihoods.eu Haïdar el Ali: © Amanda Fortier/ www.amandafortier.com Mangrove trees: ©GCCA+ / Mundo Latino Cuba Oysters on mangrove roots: © Ji-Elle Aerial view of Suriname: Videoblocks stock